The thyroid is a gland that sits at the base of the neck that produces the hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. Many patients with thyroid cancer do not exhibit any signs or symptoms of disease until the cancer becomes more advanced. Symptoms can include a lump that can be felt through the skin on the neck, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, pain in the neck and throat, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, reports MayoClinic.com. Treatment of thyroid cancer that has metastasized, or spread beyond the thyroid gland, depends on the severity of the disease, areas of metastasis, and the patient's overall health.
Surgery
Patients with metastatic thyroid cancer may be candidates for surgical excision of the tumor and surrounding areas. In some cases, removing all or most of the thyroid gland is recommended, reports MayoClinic.com. At the time of surgery, nearby lymph nodes are usually removed and dissected to determine how far the cancer has spread. If the cancer has spread to adjacent areas such as the lung or bone, it may be surgically removed depending on the site and severity of the cancer. Patients who undergo removal of the thyroid, also known as a thyroidectomy, will require hormonal supplementation for the rest of their lives.
Radioactive Iodine
Some thyroid cancer patients may be recommended to undergo therapy with radioactive iodine. According to the National Cancer Institute, radioactive iodine may be given by mouth as a liquid or in capsules, by infusion, or sealed in seeds, which are placed in or near the tumor to kill cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy may be recommended for patients with metastatic thyroid cancer. Radiation therapy uses high beam X-rays to kill cancer cells and stop them from spreading and dividing. It is given from a machine placed outside of the body, also known as external beam radiation. This treatment is typically administered a few minutes at a time, five days a week, over several weeks, says MayoClinic.com.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be used to treat metastatic thyroid cancer. During chemotherapy, potent medications are used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy can be given intravenously or in the form of a pill taken by mouth. For some patients clinical trials may be available which test new chemotherapy drugs that are being researched and studied for their effectiveness.
